Being Outdoors: Recreation in the American Imagination

Presented on the occasion of the United States' Semiquincentennial, this exhibition celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary by highlighting the strong connections between outdoor recreational activities and American identity. It explores how artists have visually shaped American ideas of nature, recreation, community, and belonging. Featuring paintings and prints from the 19th to the 21st centuries, Being Outdoors examines the relationship with the outdoors across various contexts — from fishing and picnicking to ice skating and tourism. These works invite reflection on how depictions of outdoor activities have reflected societal and cultural values over time and contributed to shaping American identity.

Being Outdoors includes works from the Rollins Museum of Art's permanent collection by Thomas Cole, Robert Freeman, Winslow Homer, and Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, among others, along with a carefully curated selection of loaned works that deepen engagement with the theme.

Image: Robert Freeman (American, b. 1946) Marco Polo, 2021, Oil on canvas, 88 ½ x 70 ½ in., The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, Rollins Museum of Art. Gift of Barbara '68 and Theodore '68 Alfond, 2021.1.12 © Robert Freeman